Posted by Lieutenant Hannah Lori Asimina (Asst. Chief Medical Officer) in The Long Goodbye (Tag Dr. Asimina)

Posted by Daniel “DaVinci” Colter (Visiting Star Fleet Officer) in The Long Goodbye (Tag Dr. Asimina)

Posted by Lieutenant Hannah Lori Asimina (Asst. Chief Medical Officer) in The Long Goodbye (Tag Dr. Asimina)
Posted by… suppressed (13) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Cmdr. DaVinci Colter walked down the corridor of Oed’s medical complex with an eager smile on his face. His Starfleet uniform clean and crisp, his commander pips reflecting in the artificial light. In his left hand, he held a single long stemmed red rose.

He finally reached the door he was looking for in the complex’s administrative wing. He stood at the door and ran his fingers across the door placard that read “Asst. Chief Medical Officer”. The name below read, Dr. Hannah Asimina.

His had moved from the door to the chime. Pausing for a brief moment, he took a deep breath and rang the chime, then waited excitedly for the love of his life to answer. . . .

Cmdr. Colter (returning XO-USS Saracen)

There were looks and whispers as the man made his way toward the administrative hall. It was not unusual at Sacred Heart to not recognize an officer, there were 20-25k of them at any given time. Patients came in and out and had visitors. This however, was different. The staff knew each other, or someone on staff knew someone else, and so on and so forth. Which meant that family and close friends were known as well. This man was unknown, but apparently he knew someone up there. The rumors were already being formed and speculated about before he ever reached the door.

Hannah was only cleared for lite duty, and today she was leaving at lunch. The return to normalcy was welcome and uplifting. If the monitor on her arm alerted she could always go home. She had spent the entire morning in her office, catching up on files and reports and schedules and all the various administrative tasks. She was grabbing her things on her way out when the chime sounded. A slight smile played across of her face - of course. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but she wasn’t surprised. She pressed the control to open the door as she rummaged in a drawer. “Hey, I’m almost ready to go.” Having found the container she was looking for she looked up.

The smile slipped into shock, the color draining from her face, the container slipped from her fingers hitting the floor with a loud clatter, the monitor registering all kinds of varied bio signs. Luckily the chair was behind her because Hannah suddenly needed to sit down.

Asimina, AMO

He reached out to steady Hannah and helped ease her back into the chair. DaVinci knelt to her level. “I know, this is a surprise, but I did promise I’d ALWAYS come back for you. Always.”

Hannah stared at him as if she was seeing a ghost. Her mind was blank for a moment and then spun at light speed reconciling who she had expected to see with Daniel. Living, breathing, flesh and blood Daniel Colter. His words registered and Hannah bit back a disbelieving laugh. This was not funny. Why? Why was this happening?

The Saracen’s returning XO leaned forward to give her a kiss. As his lips brushed against hers, he whispered, “I’ve missed you so much, Hannah.”

Colter (Saacen XO)

Hannah was stunned motionless for a moment. Then her hands came up between them and pushed back. She needed space. “Daniel…? You…,” another voice interrupted her and she looked past Daniel to her door. Instant recognition and more flashed across her eyes.

“Probably should ask someone before kissing them, Mr. Colter.” a voice said from the doorway.

“Didn’t think I needed to ask for a kiss from the woman I love and who returns the feelings,” Colter rreplied.

“You sure about that?” the man asked with a slight cock of his head.

“Just because you think it’s okay to come and go as you please doesn’t mean things remain static in your absence.” The speaker was a human man of average height with brown hair and bright green eyes. He was dressed in well made and tailored suit, and as he walked into the room he carried himself with a quiet confidence. He looked past the Star Fleet officer at Hannah and said “Hey. You okay?” and he stepped past Colter and stood next to Hannah. The move was deliberate, but not possessive. More akin to protection than laying claim.

Hannah swallowed. Her gaze followed the other man as he stepped over next to her. I don’t know, she signed. It was surreal and it brought back the memory of all that hurt and anger and loss.

“So, Daniel… what brings you to Oed V? You here for the Terraforming Concention? I hear they’re doing a lot really interesting things with soil reclamation.” he asked, staring at the bigger man without any concern.

Reilly

Daniel stood, towering over Reilly. He chuckled at the man’s comments, before replying. “No, soils not really my thing . . .unless I’m putting someone under it. I’m actually here for Hannah and whatever she needs.” He paused a moment, then added, “And you are. . .?”

Hannah did not miss the veiled threat. She knew the man next to her didn’t either, and he was more than capable of speaking for himself. However, Hannah stood quite suddenly forcing both men to back up. She never raised her voice, it made the garbled sound more pronounced and muffled her enunciation some. She raised her voice this time, “Stop it!” This was her office, her job, her place, and they were both welcome - for the moment. She wasn’t going to put up with posturing. She stood up too fast, but forced herself to stay standing until the brief dizziness passed.

Hannah looked up at the man. What was Daniel here for? Really? She looked back at Daniel; disbelief and sorrow plain on her face. “You… you were dead.”

Asimina

“That’s what the reports read, after that . . . .trip.” He began signing to Hannah. I had to go off the grid. There was a bounty on my head., then continued speaking. “It took me a while to get back to Federation space, but . . . I was able to send you a message telling you not to believe everything you hear.. Didn’t . . .didn’t you get it, sweetheart?”

Colter (XO-USS Saracen)

Get it? Of course Hannah hadn’t gotten it. If she had, she wouldn’t have…she wouldn’t have left the Saracen. She would still be there with her life on pause. Just to rinse and repeat this scenario over and over again. “No,” Hannah shook her head. “I didn’t get a letter. I got woken up, middle of the night and told to get out. To get out of our quarters, like I was some harlot yeoman in Cpt Kirk’s quarters. They took all your things and shipped them to Wyoming.” Did he not understand the grief and devastation?

Reilly looked at Colter and said “Commander, if you would kindly excuse us. Just for a moment; and I promise not to run away and fake my death while you wait outside.” He smiled at Colter and gestured towards the door. “Two minutes… if you please.”

Reilly, DD-CIA

Colter only now realized why this man was so concerned with Hannah. She thought he was dead and this time she had moved on. Before, she waited 5 years for his return. This time it had only been months. His heart began to ache at the thought of her with someone else.

Hannah closed her eyes. Maybe she wasn’t ready to return to work, she didn’t feel okay. Her words were meant to prevent argument, “I’ll be fine, Daniel. Just a couple of minutes,” she assured him. This time she spoke very softly and in her most professional voice. She pushed past them both and moved across the office to sit on the small couch. She seriously considered taking her implants off. She wasn’t sure she could keep up with just lip reading though.

Asimina, SFAMO

Daniel made a move to follow her to the couch, then stopped and watched her sit. His gaze went from Hannah, to Reilly, and back to Hannah. Sadness and confusion showed in his eyes as the rose slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.

“Fine,” he finally replied quietly, “but I’ll be right outside when you want to talk to me.” He gave Reilly one last glare before letting the door close behind him. Once in the corridor, he leaned against the wall and let his head drop. Had he really lost her? Had she really found comfort with someone else after his death? Even after promising he would always come back for her? Pain was in his heart and his stomach began to feel nauseous. . . .

Colter (XO-USS Saracen)

Hannah watched the rose fall, her heart breaking all over again. Those horrible empty days, the grief, the loss, the anger. The realization that there was nothing to wait for anymore. There was nothing left holding her in limbo, that she had no idea what to do with her life. She looked away towards the wall and wiped her cheeks before meeting Daniel’s gaze. “Thank you. I just need a moment.”

Jason waited for the door to close and then looked at Hannah. He walked over to her and took her hand and squeezed it. You okay? I can’t say I’m surprised, but I can say I’m surprised it was this soon. and he shook his head; a slight smile of disbelief on his face. He looked at her and them took a deep breath.

Hannah shook her head in a negative motion. She wasn’t okay, certainly not emotionally and she wasn’t to sure about physically either. The lights that started flashing on the arm monitor seemed to support that. Hannah felt like she was going to have another of those anxiety attacks. Which was annoying, she’d never been that way. She knew it was just a part of her recovery though, as her body learned to regulate itself again.

I cannot begin to understand how hard this is for you… especially right now. Just know that, no matter what, I will support you and any choice you make. Even if that means… and he cast a glance at the door, … even if that means him. Your happiness is all that matters, Hannah. And I know history is sometimes a very binding thing.

Jason

Hannah glanced at the door and then back at Jason. I belong here. This is where I want to be. We she took his hands and placed her fists on the outside of his and circled them together. I know you might not want to understand, but I need to talk to him. I owe that to myself. She would have said she owed Daniel too, but she knew Jason would protest over it. I don’t know how long it will take. You don’t have to wait if you don’t want; I can call you to come get me when I’m done. My monitor is connected to your PaDD, so you’ll know if anything happens. She leaned forward slightly and kissed him.

Squeezing his hands she took a deep breath and then stood and moved over to the door and let it open. “Daniel?” She stepped out into the hallway and looked at him. “Let’s go for a walk.” She led the short distance to a side entrance and then across the street to the central park of Oed, Sloan Square.

Asimina, SFAMO

Daniel didn’t say a word as they left the hospital and crossed the street. His face was emotionless, but he was full of anguish inside. He stopped mid-stride and grabbed Hannah’s hand turning her to face him.

Hannah came to an abrupt stop, turned to face him, he could see the sorrow there. She looked down at their hands and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

With a look of resignation, he asked, “Do you love him? Do you love him like you loved me? Would you hold on for 5 long years, waiting for his return?”

Hannah looked at him softly, “I’ll never love anyone like I do you, Daniel. And I’ll never love you the way I do him. You are two very different people. It isn’t a comparison.” The last answer went unuttered. Jason would never make her wait.

“Does he love you, Hannah? No one can ever love you like I do. We’ve been through so much together and made it through everything, never giving up. We were supposed to be forever. We were supposed to have children and be a family. You and I, forever.”

Colter (XO-USS Saracen)

Hannah glanced around and spotted a bench. “I…I need to sit down.” She took him with her, the few feet to the bench and sat. She waited for him to sit beside her. In the sunlight she looked tired and more worn than she had the last time he had seen her.

To his credit, Jason didn’t follow them… at least not personally. The three centimeter-small fly-drone designed by the R&D crew at Colonial Intelligence however, was doing a fine job of that on its own. Through its optics where it sat high up in a tree , Jason had a clear view of Hannah and Colter. He had the mic turned off. After all… he wasn’t watching because he didn’t trust Hannah. He had no doubts about her. Colter, on the other hand, was a narcissistic, self-centered, selfish oaf who Reilly trusted less than all of Star Fleet Intelligence combined. And that was saying something, considering Reilly’s decades of service to that particular organization. So with the drone, he kept watch on his fiancee… and waited for Colter to make a mistake and overstep his boundaries.

Reilly. DD-CIA

She took a moment, leaned sideways against the back of the bench. “This isn’t about him, Daniel. It’s about what we thought we were and what we really were.” Hannah sighed and squeezed his hand. “That’s just it. We haven’t been through so much. You have and I have but not together. Our relationship, us, was marked by many stretches apart, where we, individually, went through a lot. All we had was an idea of each other. Then when we were together,” she smiled sadly, “we held onto that excitement of when we first met, but we can’t stay there.”

“We never talked about children and family, Daniel. We never talked about our future. And when I was told you died…” A tear slipped out and Hannah paused to take a breath, “I realized, after 8 years, I had nothing and no one. My career was stagnant and I was alone. After a little while, though, I realized I was used to being alone.” She shook her head slightly. “People don’t come back from the dead. There was no possibility of you coming back.”

Hannah

Daniel wiped the tear from her cheek and let his hand trail down to her chin and lifted so their eyes met. “But I did come back, Hannah. I came back for you, like I promised.”

Hannah stared back into those so familiar eyes. “I know, and that makes this so hard. Life times have come and gone since you left.” She took a steadying breath. “I really am sorry, Daniel. Before…before I never knew, there was no answer, nothing concrete. I held out hope. You died. They told us you were dead and I just…I couldn’t. I couldn’t spend my life living with a ghost. Not again. A huge part of me died when you did. I had to leave the Saracen. I had to find a new life for this new me. I am not the same person I was. I never will be.”

At that moment, Colter’s sixth sense kicked in and warned him that they were being watched. He looked around and spotted the drone in the tree. “Your boyfriend is a spook, isn’t he? He and I are more alike than you know.”

Hannah gave him an incredulous look. He was determined to make this about Reilly and it wasn’t. He wasn’t getting what she was saying. Even if she had never met Jason, she still could never go back. “I know exactly how you are alike and exactly how you are different. It is still not a comparison.” Her voice was firm and matter of fact and her expression and body language told him she was telling the absolute truth and that she would not entertain anymore discussion on that front.

Squeezing her hands, he finally admitted, “This is it, isn’t it? It’s really over. I just want you to be happy, and if you’ve found happiness with him. . . . I guess I have to let you go, even though a part of me is dying inside. Hannah, there will always be a place in my heart for you. Always.”

He stood and let her hands fall from his. Turning to face Reilly’s drone so Hannah couldn’t see, Daniel signed, If you hurt her in any way, I can and will make you disappear, no questions asked.

Hannah’s posture noticeably altered. Stiffer, rigid. Her monitor recorded the sudden rise in pulse and BP as her anger flared. She pulled out her micro PaDD and sent a message to Jason. ‘I’m ready to go home, now.’

Turning back to Hannah, he pulled her to her feet and gave her a tight, final hug. “I love you , Han. . . .goodbye. . . .”

The hug was quick and sudden, but Hannah was angry. “I hate when you do that! Turn your back so I can’t read your lips, so you can keep a secret. As if I don’t know what you are doing. As if I don’t you well enough. And now you’re using my own language to keep more secrets from me.” She took a breath trying to calm down. “How about I just call him. Then you can say whatever threat to his face rather than to empty air. Where I can hear it since it’s about me.” She knew that much because he had pointed at her, and she knew Daniel well enough to know it was a threat.

Asimina, SFAMO

Stepping away, Colter hit his comm badge, =^=Orbital platform, this is Cmdr. Colter of the USS Saracen. One. . .only one to beam up.”

Colter (XO-USS Saracen)

There was a pause… and nothing happened. Then Colter’s comms beeped. =/\= Commander? This is Ensign Mctay in Platform Transporter room Six. Um… uh… I’m sorry sir, but we are not allowed to transport you. You have to go through CCDA to arrange a flight up to the platform, sir. =/\=

At that moment a figure familiar to Colter and very familiar to Hannah walked towards them from about fifty yards away. Jason was strolling, but his eyes were focused on the two figures he approached with a wave to Hannah. When he got close, he looked at Hannah and smiled softly. “So there aren’t any miscommunications or missed gestures, I am going to speak rather than sign. I hope that’s okay.”

He looked at Colter and said “Look. I get that you have a history with Hannah. And I have been nothing but respectful of that history- both with her and with you. You, on the other hand, have been nothing but a selfish, self-centered prick about Hannah’s and my present. So, I am going to be very direct and very clear so that maybe this will get through to you.” He took a breath and locked eyes with Colter, obviously completely unafraid of him. When he spoke, his words were calm and even, and his posture relaxed. “You left. Multiple times. Sure, you made promises to come back and you and I and Hannah all know that with the work you do those promises aren’t a thing you can actually control. Hannah is not obligated to stay with you while you do what you want and leave her alone for months and years at a time. And frankly, you have never been obligated to continue to leave. You could have chosen her over the job. At any point in time. And you didn’t. And that isn’t a condemnation, Commander. It’s just a fact. And yes, I do know what I am talking about… probably more than you do, if not at least as much. But that is neither here nor there… this isn’t a competition. Hannah didn’t choose me over you. In fact, you have nothing to do with us. At all. You were completely a non-factor until you showed up without so much as a comm to let her know you were ok. I don’t know if you watch too many romance vids or if you really are just that selfish; but that’s not how people who love one another treat each other. When you love someone, truly love them, you treat them with respect… dignity… and support them over anything else. Especially something as mundane as a job.” He stepped to stand next to Hannah and took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “Now then, I believe Hannah asked you to repeat what you said to me through the drone. So go ahead, Commander. And please, do so exactly as you signed it… because she is going to see the vid anyway.”

Reilly, DD- CIA